March 16, 2020 •
Rhode Island Legislative Leaders Announce One Week Closure
On March 13, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and President of the Senate Dominick Ruggerio announced General Assembly sessions and hearings are canceled for the week of March 16 to March 20 due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. All legislative […]
On March 13, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and President of the Senate Dominick Ruggerio announced General Assembly sessions and hearings are canceled for the week of March 16 to March 20 due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
All legislative offices are closed to allow the Department of Administration to clean the State House.
Legislative leaders will monitor the developing situation to determine if future steps are required.
March 16, 2020 •
Gov. Mike DeWine Seeks to Delay Ohio Primary Election
Less than 24 hours before the scheduled primary election, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a lawsuit will be filed in Franklin County today. This will be requesting Tuesday’s in-person primary election […]
Less than 24 hours before the scheduled primary election, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a lawsuit will be filed in Franklin County today.
This will be requesting Tuesday’s in-person primary election be postponed until June 2.
The proposal will extend the deadline for requesting absentee ballots for voters who are unforeseeably confined or hospitalized.
In turn it will offer curbside voting for anyone concerned about entering their polling place as the state’s primary election rolls on during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Husted explained the June 2 date would allow anyone who had planned to vote in person to request an absentee ballot and return it in time to vote in the election.
Whether or not the election will be postponed will be decided by court order.
March 16, 2020 •
Vermont Legislature Adjourns Until March 24
On March 13, the Legislature adjourned until Tuesday, March 24, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. The State House will be closed for cleaning and all staff except essential security and IT personnel will work remotely. Legislative leaders will reevaluate whether […]
On March 13, the Legislature adjourned until Tuesday, March 24, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
The State House will be closed for cleaning and all staff except essential security and IT personnel will work remotely.
Legislative leaders will reevaluate whether to extend the break after the one-week closure.
March 16, 2020 •
Louisiana Prepares Spending Package for Coronavirus Concerns
Louisiana lawmakers plan to create a contingency package of spending bills in case coronavirus concerns threaten to derail the session. Under the constitution, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget before the fiscal year ends on June 30. […]
Louisiana lawmakers plan to create a contingency package of spending bills in case coronavirus concerns threaten to derail the session.
Under the constitution, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget before the fiscal year ends on June 30.
Ordinarily, legislators don’t pass a state budget until the final hours of the session, which must end this year by June 1.
The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference has not yet settled on an official revenue projection.
The purpose of the projection is to dictate how much a lawmaker may spend.
Both the House and Senate remain on schedule to debate the budget and all other legislation.
March 16, 2020 •
Oklahoma Lawmakers to Hold Meeting on Coronavirus
Members of the Oklahoma Legislature will meet in a special closed-door meeting March 16 to discuss the impact of the coronavirus in the state. Republicans and Democrats will meet with state health officials to discuss the following: State services What […]
Members of the Oklahoma Legislature will meet in a special closed-door meeting March 16 to discuss the impact of the coronavirus in the state.
Republicans and Democrats will meet with state health officials to discuss the following:
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- State services
- What other states are doing to curtail the spread of the virus
- The future of the legislative session
Additionally, if the legislative session is suspended, Gov. Kevin Stitt may call lawmakers back into session at a later date.
March 16, 2020 •
South Carolina Governor Postpones County Elections
On Sunday March 15, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has announced all county elections will be postponed until after May 1. Additionally, this announcement comes will a list of measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines include […]
On Sunday March 15, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has announced all county elections will be postponed until after May 1.
Additionally, this announcement comes will a list of measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
These guidelines include the closing of all schools within the state for the remainder of March.
March 16, 2020 •
Georgia March Primary Postponed
Due to concerns over COVID-19, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has postponed the March 24 presidential primary election to May 19. The rescheduling moves the presidential primary to the same day as the state’s general primary.
Due to concerns over COVID-19, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has postponed the March 24 presidential primary election to May 19.
The rescheduling moves the presidential primary to the same day as the state’s general primary.
March 16, 2020 •
Alabama Ethics Commission to Operate with Minimal Staff
The Ethics Commission has announced only minimal essential personnel will be in office from March 16 through April 6. This will likely cause delays in precertification processing. Accordingly, the Commission has requested that precertification requests be submitted well ahead of […]
The Ethics Commission has announced only minimal essential personnel will be in office from March 16 through April 6.
This will likely cause delays in precertification processing.
Accordingly, the Commission has requested that precertification requests be submitted well ahead of time to ensure timely processing.
A drop box has been placed in the front office to accommodate hand delivery during this period.
March 16, 2020 •
Alabama Secretary of State Seeks Postponement of March 31 Runoffs
Citing concern for the health and well-being of the citizens, Secretary of State John Merrill is urging the state’s March 31 runoff elections be postponed. In a statement over the weekend, Merrill requested an emergency opinion on whether the Governor’s […]
Citing concern for the health and well-being of the citizens, Secretary of State John Merrill is urging the state’s March 31 runoff elections be postponed.
In a statement over the weekend, Merrill requested an emergency opinion on whether the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency would authorize this postponement.
Merrill also stated there is no provision or process in Alabama’s Code or Constitution allowing changes to election dates after being set.
March 16, 2020 •
Louisiana Capitol Building Screens Visitors for COVID-19
The Louisiana State Legislature announced that anyone planning to enter the state Capitol building will be screened for coronavirus beginning March 16. An email was sent from the Senate and House Communication Offices regarding how to prevent the spread of […]
The Louisiana State Legislature announced that anyone planning to enter the state Capitol building will be screened for coronavirus beginning March 16.
An email was sent from the Senate and House Communication Offices regarding how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Besides all legislators, the staff and members of the public who enter will be subject to COVID-19 screening.
March 16, 2020 •
Utah Democrats, GOP Cancel In-person State Conventions
The Utah Republican and Utah Democratic parties intend to cancel their in-person state conventions. Previously they were scheduled for April 25, and were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decisions come after Gov. Gary Herbert announced that mass gatherings […]
The Utah Republican and Utah Democratic parties intend to cancel their in-person state conventions.
Previously they were scheduled for April 25, and were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decisions come after Gov. Gary Herbert announced that mass gatherings of groups in the state will be limited to 100 people.
Both party leaders say they are restructuring their April 25 state conventions, but had little information about how the meetings will look.
Vetting and candidate voting traditionally associated with the state convention will still occur, but primarily in an online format.
March 13, 2020 •
Missouri Senate to Recess Over Coronavirus
Senate Majority Leader of Missouri Caleb Rowden announced, due to concerns over spreading the COVID-19 illness, the Senate will not meet next week. The legislative spring break was set to begin on March 19, meaning the Senate is not scheduled […]
Senate Majority Leader of Missouri Caleb Rowden announced, due to concerns over spreading the COVID-19 illness, the Senate will not meet next week.
The legislative spring break was set to begin on March 19, meaning the Senate is not scheduled to reconvene for the rest of the month.
The House will meet next week to work on the budget.
March 13, 2020 •
Indiana Legislature Adjourns
The second regular session of the 121st General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12, after a 14-hour session. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 25 of the 45 bills received in the last two days of the session. This is including […]
The second regular session of the 121st General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12, after a 14-hour session.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed 25 of the 45 bills received in the last two days of the session.
This is including one providing for electronic filing of campaign finance reports by candidates and committees.
Additionally, Holcomb signed a bill preventing the state and political subdivisions from contracting with a “prohibited person”.
This is officially defined as a person designated as posing a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks.
As a result, the remaining acts passed by the Legislature become law on the eighth day after presentment if Holcomb does not sign or veto them.
March 13, 2020 •
Louisiana Postpones Presidential Primary
Louisiana will postpone its presidential primary originally scheduled for April 4. The state is the first to do so in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana will push the election to June 20, from the planned date of April 4. […]
Louisiana will postpone its presidential primary originally scheduled for April 4.
The state is the first to do so in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Louisiana will push the election to June 20, from the planned date of April 4.
It has also delayed its municipal elections scheduled for May 9 to July 25.
States such as Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio, which hold primaries on March 17, have so far moved forward with their election events as planned.
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